Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-03-04
THE GRANT-HANcOcK TIFF.
Origin Of the Enlargement
the Distinguished Generals

OIIRIn VI the Nt"ot
the Distinguished Generals
A well known major general in the
army this evening gave the true story Of
the original quarrel between Grant and
Hancock. He said: 1.-THE facts, familiar
to some of us, and as related by con
te~mporaneous army officers, who, like
myself, met the Russell and Dent families
and young Lieuts. Grant and Hancock
years ago in st. Louis, briefly stated, are
these: The Russell family. then living in
st. Louis, were rich, becoming SO upon
profitable army contracts which Miss
Russell's father had obtained from the
United States government during and
after the Mexican war. The Dent family,
then residing in the suburbs of st. Louis,
was poor. The Russell family ENTER
tanned splendidly. The Dent family did
not mingle in the society of that city,
but lived humbly and frugally. The
young lieutenants and captains of our
regular army, who coveted riches and
were fond of elegant society, visited the
Russells. admired and some courted the
rich and accomplished Miss Russell.
'The gay young officers who coveted
riches did not seek Miss Dent. and there
fore. it was said. she became just a little
bit envious of the much sought young
lady. a superb young officer won and
carried off the rich prize. Lieut.. Win
field Scott Hancock married Miss Rus
sell \ poor, and not then very pre-
possessing young officer found favor in
the eyes and won the heart of the more
humble young lady. Lieut.. Ulysses S.
Grant married Miss Dent. Though for
many years thereafter the homes of those
two families were separated by hundreds
of miles. yet the members were not lost
sight of each to the other. Hancock be-
came personally popular with the people
of his home in Pennsylvania, and adj
vanced creditably in the military service;
while Grant, not thus favored by fortune,
got out of the army M struggled in
poverty.
Now added the major general. with
emphasis. there in that protracted con-
trast of positions was planted the seed,
long dormant, from which sprung the
Grant-Hancock quarrel-envy. Imme-
diately upon the close of the war of the
rebellion Hancock was placed in military
charge of the District of Columbia. with
quarters in Washington. The quarter
master in charge of the district, whose
official duty it was to provide Hancock
with quarters for his family residence,
rented a choice dwelling house in Wash
ington for that purpose, and Gen. and
Mrs. Hancock moved into it. There they
were residing when along came from
Virginia Gen. Grant and his family.
Grant outranked Hancock as military
commander. According to military rule
the superior officer in rank has the abso-
1,+n ,l,;,o af n,,artorc opl con if ha
will. take possession of those already oc-
cupied by his inferior.
Mrs. Grant, looking around for a
residence for her family, came upon the
house in which Mrs. Hancock was living.
Mrs. Grant told her husband of this dis
covery and expressed her desire to occupy
that house. Gen. Grant so informed the
quartermaster. and the latter, as was his
official duty, accordingly made known to
Gen. Hancock that his family must va
cate the premises. Hancock wrote a
letter to Grant d~eprecating that action,
remarking. among other things. that
there were numerous dwelling houses in
Washington equally and some more desir-
able to be had for the asking. Grant re-
piled in terms which Hancock regarded
as discourteous. and in some sentences
decidedly offensive. The Hancocks i'm
mediately vacated the coveted house and
the Grants moved into it.
Some time thereafter, on Fifteenth
street, in front of the treasury depart
ment building. Grant and Hancock met.
The former, as he afterward stated, was
prepared to salute the latter and indicated
his purpose. Gen. Hancock observed
Gen. Grant. but in a marked manner re-
fused to speak and passed on. This oc-
currence becoming publicly known some
days thereafter Gen. Sherman voluntarily
interposed as mediator. A written cor
respondence between Sherman and Han
cock followed. but no reconciliation ever
took place between Grant and Hancock,
though Grant frequently expressed his re-
grot at the enlargement. Time removed
the ascerbity of Hancock's resentment,
and he, as we know. was one of the most
conspicuous among the distinguished men
who attended the funeral of Gen. Grant"
Washington Cor. New York World.